Worst air pollution Ciutat Vella - Barcelona, today and tomorrow

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Ciutat Vella is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 38.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 38.1/100).

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Ciutat Vella will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 34.0/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 34.0/100).

How do the seasons affect air quality in Ciutat Vella? The winter months typically bring the weakest air quality of the year, as calm anticyclonic conditions trap vehicle and heating pollution near the surface. Spring is typically a transitional season, as milder, windier weather starts clearing out the pollutants that accumulate during winter's calm spells. Summer heat and intense sunlight drive photochemical ozone production, which can push afternoon air quality readings higher despite reduced winter-style pollution sources. Early autumn can still bring warm, stagnant spells before the season's returning rain and wind begin clearing the air. Coastal sea breezes here usually aid dispersal, but summer visitor traffic and periodic dust intrusions from North Africa can still cause spikes.

It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.

Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.

During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.